Means for cooling projected devices



May 3, 1949.

R. GODDARD MEANS FOR COOLING PROJECTED DEVICES Filed Feb. 1, 1947 IN VEN TOR .POBE/PT H, GODDARD, D60 ESTHH? GGODD/IRDfiX'Cl/TPH tu. m wwe vJITI'OIP/V) Patented May 3, 1949 MEANS FOR COOLING PROJECTED DEVICESRobert H. Goddard, deceased, late ofAnnapolis;

Md., by Esther C. Goddard, executrix; Worcester, Mass, assignor ofone-half to The Daniel'- and Florence Guggenheim. Foundation. New: York,N. Y., a'corporation of New York Application February 1, 1947; SerialNo: 725,805

2 Claims.

This invention relates to the cooling of devices such as rockets, rocketcraft and projectiles which are caused to travel through the atmosphereat very high rates of speed. It is found that the speeds now used forsuch devices cause an extreme rise in temperature due to friction. Thetemperatures thus produced may even be above the melting point of anyavailable metal or other material which is suitable for use in the outercasings of such projected devices.

It iS the general object of the present invention to provide means foreffectively cooling the outer surface of a projected device, even whentravelin at excessive speed.

To the accomplishment of this general object, improved constructionshave been developed by which water or other suitable liquid coolant maybe supplied to the outer surface of the projected device in such mannerthat it will form a protecting film which is continuously replenished.

The invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of partswhich will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out inthe appended claims.

Preferred forms of the invention are shown in the drawings, in whichFig. l is a partial sectional elevation of the front portion of aprojected device;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail section of the extreme front end of saiddevice;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 butshowing a modified construction;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the side wall ofthe projected device and showing a further modification;

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary perspective views, partly in section andshowing additional modified side wall spray constructions;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional detail of certain parts shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the front end of a projected deviceand showing an additional modified spraying construction; and

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional detail of a fur ther modification of theconstruction shown in Fig. 8.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a portion of a projected device D is shownin section, with a front end member ill and with a side casing ii. A

feed pipe l2 extends axially toward the front end of the device D andreceives water or some other liquid coolant under pressure from anysuitable supply.

A tube Zil extends from the pipe l2 to an axial opening 2| at the noseof the end member ll).

Liquid ejected through the tube 20 and opening 2| spreads over the outersurface of the end por-- tion In and forms a protective film therefor.

Branch pipes 24, 25, 26 and 2'! connect the feed pipe l2 to an annularseries of rearwardlydirected outlets 30, through which jets of water maybe sprayed over the outer surface of the easing H in the front andmiddle portions of the device D.

The entire front surface of the projected device is thus provided with aprotecting film of water or other liquid coolant, which is continuouslyrenewed and which effectively prevents excessive rise in temperature.

In the construction shown in Fig. 3, the opening 32 at the front of theprojected device D is provided with an axial spreader 33 which directsthe coolant rearward over the end portion of the casing and which alsoprotects the open front end of the axial tube 34 from excessive directatmospheric pressure at high speed.

In the construction shown in Fig. 4, branch pipes 36 corresponding tothe pipes 24 to 2l previously described connect direct with rearwardlytangential spray openings 38, this construction being somewhat simplerthan that shown in Fig. 1.

In the construction shown in Fig. 5, one or more branch pipes 40 connectwith an annular casing 4| which encloses a distributing recess 42. Thecasing 44 of the projected device D2 has an annular slot 45 throughwhich the liquid coolant is distributed rearward over the outer surfaceof the casing 44.

In the construction shown in Fig. 6, one or more branch pipes connectinto an annular casing 5| providing a recess 52 to receive the liquidcoolant and from which recess the coolant is sprayed through tangentialopenings 53 (Fig. 7). The outer surface of the device D3 is thuseffectively cooled.

In Fig. 8, the projected device, such as a projectile D4, is providedwith a front end portion or nose formed of porous material. An innercasing member 6| encloses a chamber 62 to which liquid coolant underpressure is supplied through a pipe 63. As the coolant is maintainedunder pressure, it makes its way outward through the porous material ofthe nose 60 and forms a film on the outer surface, as in theconstructions previously described.

A slight modification of this latter construction is shown in Fig. 9, inwhich the porous material 60a is provided in its outer surface withtangential recesses 10 which are directed rearwardly and 3 which assistin quickly forming a protective film.

With all forms of the invention, effective cooling by a protecting outerfilm is attained by very simple and effective constructions.

Having been thus described, the invention is not to be limited to thedetails herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, butwhat is claimed is:

1. In a projected device having an enclosing casing, means for coolingsaid casing comprising a porous wall forming the nose portion of saidcasing, and means to supply a liquid coolant under pressure to the innerface of said porous wall and to force said coolant through said wall toform a protective film on the outer face thereof and on said casing.

2. The combination in a projected device as set 4 forth in claim 1, inwhich the outer face of said porous wall is provided with a plurality ofrearwardly tangential recesses from which the coolant is sprayed oversaid wall and easing.

ESTHER C. GODDARD, Executrizz: of the Last Will and Testament of RobertH. Goddard, Deceased.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 440,672 Wesson Nov. 18, 18901,426,907 Ramsey Aug. 22, 1922 2,011,249 Larson Aug. 13, 1935

